Multiple fowl carrying apparatus

ABSTRACT

A multiple fowl carrying apparatus useful in automated fowl processing includes a shackle mounting frame. The mounting frame is connected to a conveyor system that routes it through certain unit operations, which can include washing, chilling and preparation for packaging. The shackle mounting frame carries a plurality of pivotally mounted shackles, movable between a first and a second position. In the first position the shackles can suspend a fowl by its legs in a processing position. When the shackles are pivoted to the second position, the fowl will drop from the shackles, readying them for further processing, packaging or the like. The apparatus includes mechanism for holding the shackles in the first position and for releasing the shackles so they can pivot to the second position. The shackles are counterweighted about the pivotal mounting so that in the absence of a fowl they are biased toward the first position.

United States Patent [1 1 Dillon MULTIPLE FOWL CARRYING APPARATUS [75]Inventor: Janus J. Dillon, lrving, Tex.

[73] Assignee: Food Equipment Inc., Dallas, Tex.

[22] Filed: Sept. 20, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 181,840

Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-D. L. WeinholdAttorney-Richards, Harris & Hubbard [451 Aug. M, 1973 ABSTRACT Amultiple fowl carrying apparatus useful in automated fowl processingincludes a shackle mounting frame. The mounting frame is connected to aconveyor system that routes it through certain unit operations, whichcan include washing, chilling and preparation for packaging. The shacklemounting frame carries a plurality of pivotally mounted shackles,movable between a first and a second position. In the first position theshackles can suspend a fowl by its legs in a processing position. Whenthe shackles are pivoted to the second position, the fowl will drop fromthe shackles, readying them for further processing, packaging or thelike. The apparatus includes mechanism for holding the shackles in thefirst position and for releasing the shackles so they can pivot to thesecond position. The shackles are counterweighted about the pivotalmounting so that in the absence of a fowl they are biased toward thefirst position.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PAIENIE AUG 1 4191s SHEEI 1 BF 2 FIG. I

MULTIPLE FOWL CARRYING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates to a fowl processing apparatus and more particularlyto a conveyor mountable apparatus for suspending a plurality of fowl ina suitable processing position.

Due to an increased demand for edible, ready-tocook fowl, the fowlprocessing industry is converting to automated procedures in order toincrease production. Presently, fowl such as chickens are initiallyprepared for processing by passing the fowl through killing, scaldingand feather removing stations. The remaining feathers, pin feathers andthe like are then removed by singeing with an open flame. The fowl isthereafter eviscerated and washed both internally and externally.Subsequently, the fowl is chilled and packaged for retail sale. Many ofthe foregoing operations are carried out on a production line in whichthe fowl are suspended from shackles connected to a conveyor system. Theconveyor is routed through various processing zones in which theseoperations are conducted manually or by a combination of mechanized'andmanual procedures. 4

Present conveyor systems for routing fowl through the various processingzones employ various shackle structures. These structures include asimple wire loop arrangement into which a fowl must be manually insertedand from which it must be manually removed. Automatic mechanized removalof fowl has been incorporated into other shackle structures but theseshackles have often presented maintenance and operational problems dueto their relatively complex construction.

Moreover, all prior shackle structures have not been capable of handlingmore than one or two chickens from a single suspension point on aconveyor system. Because of the desire within the fowl processingindustry to increase production, need has thus arisen for multiple fowlshackle structures which are simple in construction and operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention therefore provides aconveyor mountable apparatus for suspending a plurality of fowl in aprocessing position comprising a frame, a plurality of shackles movablymounted on the frame, the shackles being movable between a firstposition and a second position, the shackles including means forretaining fowl when in the first position and for releasing fowl when inthe second position, and releasable means for holding the shackles inthe first position. In a preferred embodiment, the shackles comprise abody pivotally mounted on the frame and at least two spaced armsextending outwardly from the body. The arms are spaced at a distancesuch that the leg of a fowl can be slidably inserted and retainedbetween the arms. The arms are upturned when the shackles are in thefirst position and are downturned when the shackles are in the secondposition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevation view inpartial cross section of the multiple fowl shackle apparatus of thepresent invention mounted on an-enclosed conveyor;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevation view of the portion of the shackleapparatus of FIG. 1 outlined in dotted lines;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of FIG. 2 taken along section line 3-3;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of FIG. 2 taken along section line 44;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged front elevation view similar to that of FIG. 2showing a shackle in the released position; and

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of FIG. 5 taken along section line 6-6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. I, a shacklemounting frame, generally designated 10, is attached with suitablefasteners via bracket 12 to a conveyor trolley 14. The conveyor trolley14 has wheels 16 thereon which ride on rail 18. Rail 18 is in turnfastened to housing 20, which encloses a fowl processing, productionline operation. The housing 20 can contain apparatus for washing orchilling the fowl carried on the mounting frame 10. Housing 20 issecured on a foundation by suitable supports 22.

The shackle mounting frame 10 carries a plurality of single fowlshackles 24. Each of the shackles 24 is capable of suspending a chicken26 or other processable fowl by its legs. The particular shacklearrangement shown here is best adapted for use after a chicken has beendeheaded and has had its feet removed. The shackle mounting frame 10also carries apparatus, actuated by coaction of cam surfaces 28 and pushrods 30, which will release shackles 24 so that they can move to aposition where the chickens 26 can drop from the shackles 24. As shownin FIG. 1, the cam surfaces 28 are so arranged to release shackles 24 ata position where the chickens 26 can drop through opening 32 in thbottom of the housing 20. A suitable hopper, container or otherconveyance means can be situated below the opening 32 to transport thechickens 26 to other processing lines or to a packaging operation.

The shackles 24 and the operation thereof will be discussed in greaterdetail with reference to the remaining FIGURES. FIG. 2 is an enlargedfront elevation view of the portion of FIG. 1 outlined by dotted lines34. FIGS. 3 and 4, which will be described conjointly with FIG. 2, arecross sectional views of FIG. 2 along section lines 3-3 and 4-4.

The individual shackle 24 is pivotally attached to the shackle mountingframe 10 through yoke 36. Yoke 36 is formed of two L-shaped bars whichare fastened to a shackle mounting plate 37 by suitablefasteners 36forming a part of frame 10. A pivot pin 40 extends through the body 42of the shackle 24 and through mating holes in the yoke 36. Acounterweight 44 is attached to the body 42 of shackle 24 on one side ofthe pivot pin 40. The body 42 of the shackle 24 extends through a slot46 in the shackle plate 10. Shackle arms 48 are secured at the opposingextremity of the shackle body 42 extending through slot 46. In thepreferred embodiment of the body 42, counterweight and shackle arms 48are integrally constructed. The shackle arms 48 are spaced apart to formtwo elongate slots 50 into which the legs 52 of a chicken 26 can beinserted. The slots 50 are sufficiently narrow such that the joint atthe end of leg 50 will not pass through the slots 48, thus suspendingthe chicken 26 from the anus 48 of shackle 24.

The shackle 24 is held in the upright position shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4by means of a bolt 56 which is situated between the upper portion ofyoke 36 and the lower portion of bushings shackle body 42 and betweenmounting plate 37 and pivot pin 40. Bolt 56 has a downturned portionwhich is securely fastened to push rod 30 by welding or other suitablefastening means. Push rod 30 is mounted for sliding reciprocable motionin bushings 58. Rotation of push rod 30 about its longitudinal axis isprevented by its square cross section mating with the square openings inbushing 58.

Referring specifically to FIG. 4, the shackle mounting frame is moved bythe conveyor system to which it is connected in a directional pathindicated by arrow 60. A cam 62 is mounted on a wall of the housing bysuitable fasteners 64 at a predetermined location along the conveyorpath. A cam follower 66 is securely fastened to the end of push rod 30which extends beyond the edge 68 of the shackle plate 37. Before the camsurfaces mate, the push rod 30 is fully extended in the direction ofarrow 70 such that the stop pin 72 engages the side of bushing 58. Inthis position, bolt 56 will retain the shackle 24 in its uprightposition. As the cam follower 66 advances into contact with the cam 62,the push rod 30 is actuated in a direction of arrow 74. As push rod 30moves in the direction of arrow 70, the bolt 56 is moved to the positionshown in FIG. 5, thus disengaging it from its position in contact withthe bottom of shackle body 42. The weight of the chicken 26 (FIG. 4)will cause the shackle 24 to move downwardly to the position shown inFIGS. 5 and 6. The weight of the chicken 26 and arms 48 will counteractthe force exerted by counterweight 44. The arms 48 of the shackle 24 arethus forced to a downturned position. The shackle arms 48 are no longercapable of holding the chicken 26 by its legs, thus allowing it to slideout of the slots 50 and to drop from the end of arms 48.

After the bird has dropped from the shackle 24, the force exerted bycounterweight 44 will overcome the leverage exerted by shackle arms 48.Shackle 24 will thus automatically return to the original position asshown in the FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. To lock the shackle 24 in its uprightposition, push rod 30 can thereafter be manually moved in the directionof arrow 70 (FIG. 4) until stop pin 72 again engages the side of bushing58. Thus bolt 56 reengages the bottom of shackle body 42 preventingdownward motion of the arms 48 when an other chicken is placed in theshackle 24.

Referring back to FIG. 1, it will be seen that eight single shackles 24are mounted on the shackle frame 10. The shackles are operated intandem, thus requiring four separate push rods and four cam surfaces 28mounted on housing 20. [t is to be understood that the preferredarrangement for retaining the shackles in an upright position has beendescribed. Other suitable mechanisms can be employed as desired. It isalso to be understood that instead of manually returning the push rod toits retention position as discussed in connection with FIGS. 4 and 5, anadditional cam and follower surface can be provided to automaticallyreturn the push rod 30 to its retention position.

Other various changes, alterations and substitutions of equivalentswhich are within the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the presentart can be made without departing from the concept disclosed herein. Itis intended that the present invention be limited only by the definitioncontained in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A conveyor mountable apparatus for suspending a 5 plurality of fowlin a processing position, comprising:

a frame,

a plurality of shackles movably mounted on said frame, said shacklesmovable between a first position and a second position,

each of said shackles including a body pivotally mounted on said frame,

at least two spaced arms extending outwardly from said body, said armsspaced at a distance such that a leg ofa fowl can be slidably insertedand retained between said arms, said arms being upturned when saidshackle is in said first position and being downturned when said shackleis in said second position,

means for retaining fowl when in said first position and for releasingfowl when in said second position including a counterweight connected tosaid body and extending from said body in a direction opposed to that ofsaid arms,

releasable means for holding said shackles in said first position, and

means for returning a shackle from said second position to said firstposition.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said frame comprises:

relatively flat rectangular framework including a plurality of mountingplates, said body of said shackles being pivotally mounted on one sideof said mounting plates, said arms extending through openings in saidplates to the other side thereof.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said body is pivotally mounted by apivotal mounting including a yoke mounted on one side of said frame anda pivot pin connecting said yoke and said body of said shackle.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein for each of said shackles saidreleasable means comprises:

a bar movably mounted between a first and second position on said frame,said bar in said first position mating with a retention surface on saidshackle, said bar in said second position disengaged from said retentionsurface,

means for moving said bar between said first and second positions.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said frame is mounted for movementalong an overhead conveyor which is connected to a substructure, saidbar being reciprocably mounted between said first and second positions,said means for moving said bar comprising:

an extension on said bar extending beyond the edge of said frame, 1

a stationary member mounted at a predetermined location near the path ofsaid frame as it moves along said conveyor,

mating cam and follower surfaces attached to said extension and saidstationary member which when actuated by the movement of said frame pastsaid stationary member will cause said barto be moved from said firstposition to said second position.

6. An apparatus for suspending a plurality of fowl in a processingposition comprising:

a frame including means for connecting said frame to a conveyor system,

a plurality of shackle bodies pivotally mounted on said frame, each ofsaid bodies pivotable between a first position and a second position,

spaced arms extending outwardly from each body, said arms spaced toslidably receive a leg of fowl and retain the leg between said arms,said arms being upwardly directed when said body is in said firstposition and being downwardly directed when said body is in said secondposition,

releasable means for holding each body in said first position, and

a counterweight connected to each body and extending therefrom in adirection opposed to that of said arms, said counterweight being ofSLlfflClBl'lt weight to return said body and arms from said secondposition to said first position.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said frame comprises:

a relatively flat rectangular member, each of said bodies beingpivotally mounted on one side of said frame and extending throughopenings in said frame to the other side thereof, said arms connected tothe portion of a body extending through said frame.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said releasable means for each ofsaid shackle bodies comprises:

a bar movably mounted between a first and second position on said frame,said bar in said first position mating with a retention surface on ashackle body, said bar in said second position disengaged from saidretention surface.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising:

means for moving said bar between said first and second positions.

1. A conveyor mountable apparatus for suspending a plurality of fowl ina processing position, comprising: a frame, a plurality of shacklesmovably mounted on said frame, said shackles movable between a firstposition and a second position, each of said shackles including a bodypivotally mounted on said frame, at least two spaced arms extendingoutwardly from said body, said arms spaced at a distance such that a legof a fowl can be slidably inserted and retained between said arms, saidarms being upturned when said shackle is in said first position andbeing downturned when said shackle is in said second position, means forretaining fowl when in said first position and for releasing fowl whenin said second position including a counterweight connected to said bodyand extending from said body in a direction opposed to that of saidarms, releasable means for holding said shackles in said first position,and means for returning a shackle from said second position to saidfirst position.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said framecomprises: relatively flat rectangular framework including a pluralityof mounting plates, said body of said shackles being pivotally mountedon one side of said mounting plates, said arms extending throughopenings in said plates to the other side thereof.
 3. The apparatus ofclaim 2 wherein said body is pivotally mounted by a pivotal mountingincluding a yoke mounted on one side of said frame and a pivot pinconnecting said yoke and said body of said shackle.
 4. The apparatus ofclaim 3 wherein for each of said shackles said releasable meanscomprises: a bar movably mounted between a first and second position onsaid frame, said bar in said first position mating with a retentionsurface on said shackle, said bar in said second position disengagedfrom said retention surface, means for moving said bar between saidfirst and second positions.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein saidframe is mounted for movement along an overhead conveyor which isconnected to a substructure, said bar being reciprocably mounted betweensaid first and second positions, said means for moving said barcomprising: an extension on said bar extending beyond the edge of saidframe, a stationary member mounted at a predetermined location near thepath of said frame as it moves along said conveyor, mating cam andfollower surfaces attached to said extension and said stationary memberwhich when actuated by the movement of said frame past said stationarymember will cause said bar to be moved from said first position to saidsecond position.
 6. An apparatus for suspending a plurality of fowl in aprocessing position comprising: a frame including means for connectingsaid frame to a conveyor system, a plurality of shackle bodies pivotallymounted on said frame, each of said bodies pivotable between a firstposition and a second position, spaced arms extending outwardly fromeach body, said arms spaced to slidably receive a leg of fowl and retainthe leg between said arms, said arms being upwardly directed when saidbody is in said first position and being downwardly directed when saidbody is in said second position, releasable means for holding each bodyin said first position, and a counterweight connected to each body andextending therefrom in a direction opposed to that of said arms, saidcounterweight being of sufficient weight to return said body and armsfrom said second position to said first position.
 7. The apparatus ofclaim 6 wherein said frame comprises: a relatively flat rectangularmember, each of said bodies being pivotally mounted on one side of saidframe and extending through openings in said frame to the other sidethereof, said arms connected to the portion of a body extending throughsaid frame.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said releasable meansfor each of said shackle bodies comprises: a bar movably mounted betweena first and second position on said frame, said bar in said firstposition mating with a retention surface on a shackle body, said bar insaid second position disengaged from said retention surface.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 8 further comprising: means for moving said barbetween said first and second positions.